Expressing serious concern over the loss of more than 200 lives to dengue, the BNP urged the government on Monday to take urgent measures to contain the outbreak of this Aedes mosquito-borne disease and protect people’s lives.
Speaking at a press briefing at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, party Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi warned that public disappointment could escalate and confidence in the government may diminish if it fails to effectively address the worsening dengue situation.
“The advisers are discussing various measures to prevent dengue. But there are no visible efforts in place to protect lives from this disease, which is truly unfortunate,” he said.
According to official statistics, the BNP leader stated that more than 200 people have already lost their lives to dengue, which is deeply disappointing. “We strongly urge the government to take immediate steps to contain the dengue prevalence and save people’s lives.” .
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Rizvi stated that the government needs to intensify efforts to eliminate mosquitoes, target dengue hotspots, and eradicate the larvae of Aedes mosquitoes.
He also said the government needs to increase the availability of essential medicines and the number of hospital beds, especially in Dhaka’s hospitals, to prevent the loss of lives.
He said dengue, a tropical disease, is preventable and it tends to outbreak during the rainy season. “So, the government should have implemented necessary preventive measures earlier to save lives. This is not the government of Sheikh Hasina. It’s a government supported by the people.”
Rizvi emphasised that dengue could continue to spread until November, urging the government to prioritise this issue and take every possible step to halt the outbreak of the deadly disease.
He said the BNP has undertaken coordinated efforts to raise awareness among the public as part of a strategy to address the dengue situation, following a directive from party Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.
He mentioned that they have established a hotline and a website to facilitate communication between those in need of blood and those willing to donate. ‘As a political party, we are striving to support the people, but the government must implement effective measures at the macro level.”
